So Shoe Me

Christmas 2014

We've had a busy holiday season so far of parties and dinners.   

Christmas eve we spent with our friends Julie and Glenn - truly so lucky to have friends who open their beautiful homes to our wrecking crew.

 

College students coloring with toddlers - not much cuter than this.

 

Upon arrival at Julie & Glenn's the boys began to destroy play carefully with ornaments and christmas decorations.

 

Cupcakes for dinner:

After the sugar meltdown we settled into watching movies on the couch with grandma.

Changed into elf PJs and checked out the tree:

 

bribed them with a second round of cupcakes to try and get all to sit together.

Group photos were attempted:

 

We're missing one!

Amelia put on a small "jazz show"

The boys watched.  And ate another cupcake.

 

Back at home, Amelia and I also got into our elf gear.

Mike was festive in green (BRASIL! BRASIL!) and red.

 

Amelia:

photobombing:

Antonio:

 

Harris:

 

 

Lawrence:

Playing with lighting - watching the boys...

 

Merry Christmas to all and to all....

A "GOOD" NIGHT!  Are you done yet mom?

 

 

Santa Party - and the effects of sugar on toddlers

We were invited to our friends annual kids holiday party.  It is a fun event with elves singing songs, and Santa and crafts.  Last year (click for the link) we went and everyone had a good time but no one is still really interested in sitting with Santa except Lawrence.

 

Since everyone is all dressed up in their holiday cutest, I try to get some good photos - but seriously, my photos are like an advertisement for why I always hire Leslie Callan whenever I want photos of the people I made to turn out good.

 

In disbelief that I have given them cookies.

Harris breaks his cookie within the first 10 seconds.  He would drop and/or break 3 more candy cane cookies and cry as if his heart was broken each and every time.

I had to beg and bribe Amelia to pose with Santa - it took 5 elves to help me convince her.

 

 

Antonio would only come close enough to grab a candy cane:

 

Candy cane in one hand, cookie in the other - sugar meltdown to follow.

Harris ventured about as closely as Antonio

Lawrence, was my only brave guy.

'

Lawrence making sure he can get a candy cane.

 

 

Singing with elves

 

Playing with legos

 

Again, no one can resist Lawrence's curls.

But when 3 toddlers eat primarily cookies for lunch - here's how they behave in front of Santa. 

 

 

Poor form Lawrence.  Only lump of coals for you.

 

 

GINGERBREAD HOUSES

The best thing about living down the block from our neighborhood clubhouse is the activities they have for kids.  Gingerbread house decorating is usually such a spectacular mess, I love that we swoop in - everything's ready for us - we have dinner and wine, leave with our houses and leave the mess behind.

At first Lawence was suspicious of the white stuff

 

He tested it and confirmed it to be delicious.

 

The boys certainly had their share of sugar that night!

Harris covered his house with candy canes.

 

Antonio, was as methodical and thoughtful as ever covering every inch of his house with candy.

 

Oops, missed a spot up here.

 

 

Harris found a spot that calls for more candy cane.

 

AAAAAAAnnnnnd maybe just one more candy cane.

 

Antonio spinning with sugar high.

 

Even the big girls get into the fun:

We were able to have a glass of wine during the event.

No one can resist Lawrence's curls:

 

Sometimes I get in the picture too!

But getting down and dirty with the boys means you end up with frosting on your forhead and no one tells you.  

 

 

31 Months. (a couple of weeks ago)

Oops - 31 months came and went boys!  Holidays and crazyiness got the better of us and I'm just catching up now.  

The last few weeks have been spent going to various holiday events - we're so lucky that we have friends that invite my whole crew to their house.

 

The boys first visit with Santa this year was at the Chistmast party for the Children's Therapy Center.  They were cautious and refused to sit in his lap, but were willing to give a high five, and take a candy cane and a gift.

They also got to play on all the fun toys they have there at CTC!

Antonio:

You've stopped calling yourself Otto - and work so hard to say Antonio now.  I'm so happy with how well you've been working on articulating lately, but I sure will miss that sweet nickname.  Grandma gave you some Nemo toys and you could barely breathe you were so excited about those toys.  You and your brothers will play epic recreations of the Nemo movie which primarily involves all of you yelling "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO  Daaaaaadddddy!  Neeeeeemmmooooo!!! and "Don't touch the BUTT!"

Harris:

You love to play pretend with your brothers - you always want them to dress up or pretend to be doggies with you.  The other day Antonio wouldn't play with you and you hit him.  When you were told you needed to apologize to him, you crossed your arms and said "NEVER!"  

Lawrence

Your favorite thing to play right now is teeny tiny animals.  You have about 50 and you love to get them in the house, and you have them talk to each other "Hi! I giraffe, who are you?"  "Hi I a sheep! What you doing?"  "Nothing!" "Ok!  let's dance!"  

Walking with mannequins

Amelia's favorite thing to do at the mall is to pretend to be a mannequin and pose in the mall.

Fall 2014

Thanksgiving week, we took the boys down to the end of the cul-de-sac where they love to play with the leaves, see the fountain and lake and generally pick up every stick they see.  

 

Antonio

Antonio - you are talking up a storm now.  Full sentences and you know what you want exactly.  If you are playing with a toy at night, you hide it in the toy work bench, or in a corner so only you know where it is the next morning and your brothers can't get it.  

 

Harris

You sweet sweet boy - you gave us such a scare.  

We had another scare this week - Harris (like Antonio this summer) had a febrile seizure.  He bounced back remarkably quickly poor kiddo.  But 911 was called, Ambulance ride to the ER just to be told as we expected - nothing much to do but to just take it easy and watch his temperature.  

But you were such a trooper, as soon as you started to feel a little better you said "Mama, you have pretty earings." Then you turned to Mike and asked "Daddy, where's your tie?"  When you were laying on my chest in the hospital you had your back to Mike and you started asking "Where's my daddy?  I need to see my daddy!"  I turned you so you could see Mike, and you smiled showed him your balloon and bear.  You wanted him to throw the balloon to you.  When he did you said "I love playing ball with you, Daddy."  Aw man, you melt my heart.

True to your nature, spent much of your time in the ER asking where your brothers were. You love to play with them - and you are the only one who when your brother wants to play something different than you, you usually accommodate their wants.  And you say it in the most chipper voice "OK!  We play YOUR GAME!  It's so much fun!  I love this!"

 

Lawrence

Lawrence, you've started calling yourself "Lawlence" instead of "Laurie" and it is so sweet.  You are my snuggly sweet boy.  When a friend came over last week and said she was getting up to go give your aunt Brook a hug, she said "I need to go give someone a hug, I'll be right back" You stood up, put your arms up and said "I have hugs!"  You were so sweet with your cousin baby Rose over thanksgiving, wanting to give her so many hugs.  

Amelia and everyone playing together

 

Digging in the dirt - why not?